Cast a Blue Shadow. P. L. Gaus

We’re really just waiting for her to sober up, as I understand it.”

      “I’ve told your captain that Sally will say nothing more until the family lawyer arrives.”

      Robertson changed the subject. “I understand there were quite a few people out here last night.”

      “I’ve already given your sergeant a list of the staff.”

      “I’ll need a list of the guests, too,” Robertson said.

      Bliss turned to his desk, took a handwritten list from the blotter, and gave it to Robertson. “This is the invitation list. I’ve been working on it for you just now. So far as I remember, everyone attended. Perhaps Professor Branden could verify the list.”

      Robertson handed the list to Branden without looking at it.

      Captain Bobby Newell entered the narrow room from a door to the kitchen and said, “Lawyer’s here.”

      Newell was dressed in gray sweats, as if he’d been summoned to the scene from the gym. He was stocky and well muscled. His habit of flexing the muscles in his massive arms and shoulders made him seem constantly agitated.

      Branden asked him, “Didn’t get much from Sally?”

      “No,” Newell said. “She’s still pretty wasted. Her girlfriend up in the back bedroom is the same. They say her mother was drunk last night, too.”

      “That’s not possible,” Daniel countered.

      Newell ignored the butler. “I’ve collected several champagne bottles out of Sally Favor’s room and elsewhere, and enough gin was served here, last night, to keep ten people drunk,” he told Robertson. “Gave all the bottles to Dr. Taggert already.”

      “You’ve no right to search through people’s rooms,” Daniel complained.

      “Oh, I very much do, sir,” Newell answered. “At any rate, the young lady is still inebriated. It’s going to be a while before we get anything coherent out of her.”

      Robertson tapped the list Branden held and said, “Now, Mr. Bliss. For the record, do you consider that anyone on your list there will have had a motive for murder?”

      Branden was surprised by the direct question, and from what he saw in the butler’s expression, so was Bliss. Newell instinctively moved a little closer and sat on the edge of Bliss’s desk, crowding the butler somewhat. Robertson held Bliss’s eyes and waited.

      Bliss sighed as if his integrity had been impeached by imbeciles, and said, “Any of them.”